MAC Fashion Flower: Eyeshadows

The collection features six shades of Eyeshadows (each $14.50 for 0.05 oz.) — three are limited edition, while three are available in the permanent range; though, all of the editions in this launch are imprinted with the flower design, while permanent editions will be normal. The six shades include: Aqua (aqua blue), Bows & Curtseys (metallic hunter green), Free to Be (bright true coral), Fresh Daisy (frosty white yellow), Groundcover (mid-tone warm grey), and Lucky Green (frosted mid-tone lime).

Aqua is a bluish aqua with a matte finish. This is a permanent shade but I felt like it was a little less pigmented here than my permanent pan.

Bows & Curtseys is a blackened forest green with bluish shimmer. It looks nearly black when swatched on my arm with the green being hinted at as the color plays with light. When I wore it in a look (albeit with a sheer green base), it seemed to pull out the forest green more. This has a satin finish.

Free to Be is a medium-dark coral-red with a matte finish. This is a permanent shade, but I felt like it was a little less pigmented here than my permanent pan.

Fresh Daisy is a very bright white with only a hint of warmth. It has a frost finish, but it really looks rather metallic. I tried to wear it as a highlighter, but it’s too frosted and stark on me–I imagine it would be more appropriate on someone with a lighter skin tone. It is, however, very pigmented.

Groundcover is a matte, taupe-ish brown gray. It is nicely pigmented but lacks the buttery texture that makes mattes easier to use.

Lucky Green is a bright, chartreuse-shimmered grass green with strong yellow undertones. It has a veluxe pearl finish. This is a permanent shade. It’s one of my favorite colors, because it is so pigmented and soft.

102 Comments

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I am SO wanting Bows and Curtseys (was this not also in Tartan Tales or was it another product of the same name?) and also Groundcover (I always go for the neutrals!!! But these look gorgeously gorgeable!) Sad to hear that the matte texture of Groundwork is hard to blend but the colour is so “me”.

Okay, I just checked back and Bows and Curtseys was, indeed, in the Tartan Tales release, as part of an eye shadow palette but, OMG…THIS current B&C looks like that previous one on steroids and with a hefty blood transfusion! So much more intense, dark and pigmented!

Christine may not have FG, but I do. And I brought my palette with me to the counter just for this comment.

French Grey is way browner, but Groundcover and Apres-Ski are so similar that I’m considering returning Groundcover. They’re both matte and Groundcover may be a smidgen browner than Apres-Ski, but the later actually applies smoother. I swatched at the counter and saw it, but purchased anyway because I wanted to test with UDPP underneath.

Since I have all three here, I can post/send a pic once there’s some daylight. MUFE 110-115 for reference.

Haave mercy!
I own and love both French Grey and Smoke & Diamonds, and kind of want Apres Ski, taupe fiend that I am.
I was going to go for Groundcover, but after seeing the comparison photos, I don’t know if I’ll bother.
Why didn’t MAC bring back Seedling with this collection?
I was hoping they would!

Thanks for sharing the swatches!! Are the smoke & diamonds / Apres ski, LE? I don’t see them on MAC website??
I bought groundcover & bows & courtseys today..haven’t tried them on yet, but will compare groundcover to my french grey..if its similar, then I’ll be returning groundcover! I’ve been looking for a nice satin greyish brown for so long, but haven’t found one I love yet!

You’re welcome Bridget and Sheryl! Anything to help other eyeshadow-junkies out!!

All the shadows are LE. French Grey is far more brown than Apres-Ski/Groundcover and has a different finish. It’s just Apres-Ski and Groundcover that are pretty much duplicates of each other. And I’m assuming they called it “Groundcover” for this collection because things like skis do not work for the whole “spring and flowers” imagery of this collection.

MAC just doesn’t have a dupe of Apres-Ski/Groundcover in their permanent collection, just like Christine said in her review of Chill way back in 2008.

So, it’s just a matter of owning Apres-Ski or Groundcover. Then again, as you can tell by the pics, I have very fair skin with no yellow undertones (the veins on my inner wrist are blue bordering on violet) The slightest color — and difference, for that matter — always shows up. Whether or not the same colors work as dupes for you personally is dependent on your own complexion.

To my eye, they look very similar. Lucky Green seems to have a bit more depth and is a hair more green, but they’re close. I’ll have to check out Lucky Green myself at the MAC store, but I think this is a fair dupe.